BACKPACKING TRIP
The Nootka Trail
5 DAY / 4 NIGHTS | CHALLENGING
Enjoy solitude and adventure as you embark on a journey deep into Vancouver Island's wild west coast. Our guided Nootka Island backpacking trek offers stunning diverse coastal scenery, sandy beach hiking, visits to historical sites and cascading waterfalls. With ample opportunities to explore and relax from our scenic campsites, it is an action-packed but well balanced adventure. It is also a point to point hike, which means all new scenery every day. Whether you are a seasoned backpacker, just starting out, or somewhere in between, this trip is sure to offer something new for everyone! Why should you hike the Nootka Trail with a guide? Our backpacking tours provide you with all the necessities for the perfect trip, including all meals, float plane transport from Tofino, Vancouver Island to Nootka Island, safety gear, backcountry accommodation, and of course, an ACMG certified hiking guide.
HIGHLIGHTS
Itinerary
DAY 1
Starfish Lagoon to Third Beach
Travel from Tofino via float plane northward along the outer west coast. We will land in the protected waters of Starfish Lagoon on Nootka Island where we will upload our gear and watch the float plane take off and allow the silence of the rainforest to soak in. Here we will hike to our first camp on the white sand of Third Beach. Today we will focus on instruction, teaching terrain management, hazard awareness and adjusting our equipment for the perfect fit. The rest of the afternoon will be spent learning camping skills: setting up tents, throwing a food hang, rigging a kitchen tarp, and relaxing until dinner, sunset, and bed.
DAY 2
Third Beach to Calvin Falls
Our first full day of the trek, we will have a few steep sections over headlands but is mostly beach hiking today. Arrive to camp at Calvin Falls mid to late afternoon and spend the rest of the day swimming in the pool under the falls, explore the beach and intertidal life or just relax in the sand until dinner.
DAY 3
Calvin Falls to Beano Creek
After a big day, we can relax a little and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before hitting the trail. Today’s route will be all coastal hiking with little to no elevation gain. After a lunch break at Bajo Point we should arrive at our camp again in the early afternoon. Enjoy the rest of the day full of siestas and relaxation.
DAY 4
Beano Creek to Sunrise Beach
This is the longest and most difficult day of the trek. We will be challenged by many ups and downs as we head around Maquinna Point, dotted with lots of pocket beaches, sea caves and stunning coastline. Dinner will be well deserved as we reach Sunrise Beach for our last evening on the trail.
DAY 5
Sunrise Beach to Yuquot
Enjoy our final day with views of Nootka Sound as well head to the historic village of Yuquot. We will arrive with plenty of time to explore the village and enjoy a picnic lunch in Friendly Cove. Our float plane will pick us up here to bring us on a spectacular afternoon flight back southward to Tofino where we will have our farewell dinner at one of our favourite local restaurants.
Useful Information
- Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
- Departs/Ends: Tofino
- Hiking Distance: 37 km (23 miles)
- Type: Multi-day Hiking Trip / Private / Backpacking / Camping
- Location: Nootka Island, Nootka Sound
- Terrain: 75% coastal / 25% rainforest trail
- Group Size: 1-4 people (Due to float plane capacity we are limited to 4 people maximum)
- Season: May – September
- You will need to arrive the day before your trip in time to attend a mandatory orientation meeting at 6:00 PM in the Storm Light Outfitters (390 Main Street, Tofino, British Columbia, CANADA). Your guide will cover introductions, a thorough briefing of your route, hand out group and personal gear and answer any last-minute questions you may have. Our group will meet at the same location the following morning for float plane transport to the trailhead together. Dinner & lodging is on your own tonight; make sure you have a hearty meal and a good night’s sleep as tomorrow we hit the Nootka Trail!
Challenging
- To determine the grade of a particular adventure we consider a number of factors. These include the condition of the walking trails, daily climbing and descending and duration of the trip. While part of this hike does utilize formed trails, you must be comfortable hiking across technical terrain including rocks and boulders, slippery tree roots and scree slopes. There are some unbridged streams to cross and some steep rocky hillsides to scramble up and down. This itinerary requires good fitness, balance, coordination and a good head for heights. The sense of isolation and wilderness is a strong feature of this trip. For you to be able to really enjoy this hike we recommend that you are confident walking across uneven terrain and are able to hike comfortably for multiple hours at a time (breaks included) with plenty of uphill.
- Suitable for ages 16 and up.
- A certified ACMG Hiking Guide
- Float Plane Charter (Tofino to Nootka Island and return)
- Top-of-the-line tent and backcountry sleeping pad
- High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use) – or bring your own
- Use of trekking poles
- All meals are included from lunch the first day through dinner on the last day
- Bear safety equipment including bear spray cannisters and food-hanging gear
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and satellite phone
- Pre-Trip Planning and Organizing Logistics
- Packing Tips
- Trail fees
- Transportation to Tofino
- Accommodation in Tofino pre and post trek
- Clothes, rain gear, and footwear, multi-day backpack (available to purchase at Storm Light Outfitters)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items (available to purchase at Storm Light Outfitters)
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight (available to purchase at Storm Light Outfitters)
- Your favourite trail snacks
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
- All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, couscous, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.
- For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried). In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
- We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
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Have a Question?
Our team at the Long Beach Nature Office looks forward to hearing from you!
CONTACT US
+1.250.725.3320
Box 1132 Tofino, BC V0R2Z0
OFFICE
Storm Light Outfitters
390 Main Street, Tofino BC